Cape Sounion is a coastal day trip from Athens, the city near this southern Attica headland, where the Temple of Poseidon stands above the Aegean Sea. You can reach the cape by bus or car and combine the temple visit with views of the coast and other archaeological remains.
- Location: Cape Sounion, at the southern tip of Attica.
- Bus: about 2 hours from Athens by KTEL, with a coastal route.
- Car: about 65 minutes from central Athens, according to Hellenic Heritage.
- Site hours: daily from 09:30 until sunset, with seasonal opening details below.
- Admission: €20 full and €10 reduced.
Why make the journey to Cape Sounion
Cape Sounion brings a dramatic headland, Aegean views and ancient remains together at the southern tip of Attica. The Temple of Poseidon overlooks the sea from the cape, making the setting an important part of the visit.
The headland also had a strategic role: its position helped control ships approaching Piraeus and access to the silver mines of the Lavreotiki interior. On the opposite hill stand the remains of the Temple of Athena, while a military ship-shed survives at the entrance to the northern harbor.
The coastal bus passes through places including Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, Lagonisi, Saronida, Anavyssos and Legrena. If you want to compare seaside areas closer to the city, read the Athens beach guide.
How do you get from Athens to Cape Sounion?
You can travel from Athens to Cape Sounion by KTEL bus or car; the bus takes about 2 hours, while the drive from central Athens is estimated at 65 minutes. The bus follows the coast, so it also connects the city with several seaside places along the way.
KTEL Attikis gives a daily Athens–Sounio coastal bus departure at 10:30 and a daily return from Sounio at 16:45. The Sounio-bound bus departs from Aigyptou Square at Pedion Areos, at the corner of Alexandras Avenue and Patission Street. It also passes Klafthmonos Square, Syntagma and Syngrou-Fix metro station.
The return ticket for the coastal service costs €15, payable in cash on the bus. Timetables and fares can change, so check the official site before you go. For city transport connections to the departure point, the Athens public transport guide covers metro, buses and walking.
Visiting the Temple of Poseidon
The Temple of Poseidon is a Doric temple built in the mid-5th century BC over the remains of an earlier temple destroyed during the Persian invasion. Its frieze showed scenes from the Centauromachy and Gigantomachy; some relief slabs are displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Lavrion.
The archaeological site is open daily from 09:30 until sunset throughout the year: from April 1 through October 31, and from November 1 through March 31. Last admission is 20 minutes before closing. The site closes on January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday, and December 25 and 26.
Admission costs €20 full and €10 reduced. Free admission applies on March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September, October 28, and the first and third Sundays of each month from November 1 through March 31.
Hellenic Heritage names a shop, toilets, parking, Wi-Fi and an accessible site among the visitor facilities. Check Hellenic Heritage before you go for current opening details and admission information.
Planning the coast and return journey
Plan the visit around the return transport you intend to use: the KTEL return leaves Sounio at 16:45, while a car journey from central Athens is estimated at 65 minutes. The archaeological site's address is the 68th km of the Athens–Sounion highway, 19500 Sounion, Lavreotiki.
The coastal bus route gives you a way to connect Cape Sounion with seaside places such as Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. The temple, the remains of the Temple of Athena and the northern harbor's ship-shed are all part of the cape's archaeological setting.
FAQs
How long does it take to get from Athens to Cape Sounion?
Hellenic Heritage estimates about 2 hours by KTEL bus from Athens and 65 minutes by car from central Athens.
Where does the Sounio-bound bus leave from?
The bus departs from Aigyptou Square at Pedion Areos, at the corner of Alexandras Avenue and Patission Street.
When is the Temple of Poseidon archaeological site open?
The site is open daily from 09:30 until sunset, with seasonal details and closure dates described above. Last admission is 20 minutes before closing.